"Winter Thaw, 2009" by Sophie Penstone
“I’m not known for painting landscapes but there was something about the view as we drove past on a frosty morning one November that made me insist we stopped the car! I was struck by the way the thawing frost was creating such a strong contrast of colours. The fields were more blue/green than usual and were perfectly complimented by the ochres and siennas in the ploughed field in the foreground. After a hurried sketch and some notes I took photographic evidence to begin the painting back in the studio. I always start with washes in watercolour which help create a sense of distance and then bring in the vibrancy of the acrylic inks. People often comment on two things: the ‘bent’ tree, which is a common site in Cornwall as the strong sea winds force some trees to grow this way; and the purposeful splatter of paint that has been nicknamed ‘the worm!’ Both features have made me very fond of this painting.”
